Leather grading machine



May 26, 1931. D. E. HARDING LEATHER GRADING iucamn Filed Sept. 29. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet l May 26, 1931. D. E. HARDING 1,306,756

LEATHER GRADING MACHINE v Filed Sept. 29, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May I 26 1 931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DANA E. HARDING, OF ARLINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO HARDING-WALCOTT COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A C01".-

PORATION onmassacnnsnrrs LEATHER GRADING MACHINE Application filed September 29, 1924. Serial No. 740,474; 7

- In the manufacture of leather from hides,

one of the important steps, particularly in I the manufacture of leather from the hides of calves and sheep, is the grading of the skin into groups of different thicknesses. For example, an important step in the manufacture of leather from calf skins is grading the finished skins into groups, such as is demanded by the trade in which the leather is tobe used, and assuming this use is in the manufacture of shoes, it is customary to grade the finished skin'into difi'erent thicknesses suitable for light ladies shoes, ladies,

medium ladies, men s,heavy mens, etc. At,

the present time with but very few exceptions this step is performed manually and is'done by the workman folding the skin down the central back portion, grasping the folded skin betweenthe thumb and finger and running the thumb and'forefinger theentire length of the hide. From the feel of the thickness of his thumb and finger, the operator is able to judge with a surprising degree of accuracy the average'thickness of the skin operatedon, anditheaverage thickness of a skin determines in which group, as light ladies, ladies, mens, heavy mens, etc., the skin isto be graded. Various attempts have been made to perform this operation mechanically in order't'o'do away as much as possible with the human element as it has been found that notwo graders will-average the skins in identically the same manner. In my copending application, Serial :No. 669,909, filed on. 22, 1923, there is disclosed a machine in which the averaging of thethicknessof skins is performed and the present invention is the result of a study of the imperfections noted in the operation of the apparatus disclosed in suchapplication.

Inthepriordevices it was found that accurate. results cannot be consistently attained andsuchzprior machinesarecapable only of averaging the thickness on a given-line across the width ofthe skin and, although mechanical checks to prevent too rapid fluctuations of the indicating hand have been provided,

the results, as indicated on and by themach1ne,'a1'e only true within certain limits.

In my present machine I have devised an apparatus for averaging the thickness over a predetermined area'of a skin and this predetermined area is the central longitudinal portion of the skin and on which average thickness depends the classification of the skin as a commercial product. i In carrying out my invention I arrange a plurality of rows of separately and independently movable members connected through a system of linkages whereby the individual movements, of such members is averaged and the average result of such movement ually indicated on a dial.

The principal object of my invention,

positively and vistherefore, is animproved grading or averaging machine of. the type above referred to.

Another object of my invention is an improved apparatus for mechanically averaging the thickness of a skin or hide of relatively flexible material over a predetermined area thereof. p Y I A further object is a mechanically reciprocable table associated with the averaging elements. Otherobjects and novel features of the construction and arrangement of parts will appear-as the description of the invention progresses.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of my invention,

Fig. 1 is a frontelevation; Fig. 2is a side elevation showing certain portions thereof broken away; Fig. 3 is a partial plan View of Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 is a sectional plan view on theline H of Fig. 1. i Referring to the drawings, 10 designate a rectangular base on thejtop of which and at each end'thereof are secured by bolts 11 standards or uprights 12. The upper ends of the standards 12 extend outwardly laterally and form stops indicated by the numeral 13, as shown in Fig. 2. Mounted above thestandards 12 is a table 14. and to the under side of the table adjacent to each end thereof and secured thereto by bolts are lugs 16, the upper surface of which lugs engage with the lower surface of the stops 13.

The standards 12 have formed integral therewith, and intermediate the top and bottom thereof, members 17. Formed integral with the member 17 and extending upwardly from the upper surface and at either end'thereof are projections '18 on which fit the lower end of coil springs 19. The upper end of the coil springs 19 fit over projections 20 formed integral with, and extending downwardly from, the under surface of the table 14.

- These springs 19 yieldingly hold the table 14 upwardfrom the standards 12 and the lugs 16, engaging with the stops.13,-limit the upward movement of said table 14. The

' table 14 is thus yieldingly held in position in the apparatus. Formed integral with, and at the entrance end of the table 14 is a tapered end 21 to facilitate feeding of the skins 'or hides onto the table 14. At the end of the table 14 remote from the-tapered portion 21 is an extension 22 which maybe of any suitable length, andxthis extension 22 is secured to the table 14 by a bracket 23.

Secured to thebase 10 near one side'thereof bybolts 24 is a motor or other prime mover 25. On the driving'shaftof the motor 25 is formeda worm 26 which meshes with, and

drives, a worm gear 27-secured to a shaft 28 that is rotatably mounted in bearing members29 secured to the top surface of the base i 10. Formed *integral with, and extending "from the shaft 28 to the shaft 33.. 'To each end of the shaft 33 is secured, in any suitable manner, a plate 37 and secured to each vmember 37 and extending outwardly there from is a crank pin 38. 'R-otatably mounted on the crank pins 38 and held thereon by washers 39' and cotter pin 40 are connecting rods 41. The upper end of each of the connecting rods 41 isforked, as'indicatedat42, andthe upper forked ends 421are provided with elongated openings 43. Secured in the under side of the table 14 are shafts or pins 44 which pass through theelongated holes 43 in the forked end. 42 of the connecting rods 41. Rotary movement of the shaft 33 will cause a reciprocating movement of the table 14 and the elongated holes 43, in con-' 'ne'ction with the shafts 44, will causea momentary stop or pause of the reciprocating V movement of the table 14 atthe upper limit of movement thereof. 7

Secured at each end of the base 10 directly behind the. standards 12 are uprights 45. These uprights extend upwardly and then forwardly to a point over the standards 12, and secured to such uprights by bolts 46 is a rectangular member 47. This rectangular member 47 is spaced apart from, and lies parallel to and in the same direction as, the table 14, as clearly shown in the drawings. On each side'of' the rectangular member 47 and spaced equally from each other are pairs of lugs 48. -These lugs extend laterally outward fromthe rectangular member 47 and eachpair is providedwvith aligned holes which form, vertical b ear1ngs, 1n eachpair of which is slidably mounted, a shaft 49;

Each of the shafts49 is threadedat its lower end, a'sindicated at 50,rand, screwed into the threaded portion 50 are members 51. Each of the members 51 is formed with a slot 52 extending through the upper portion thereof into the interior threaded portion, as

clearly-"shown in Fig. 3, and a screw 53 is 7 provided for clamping the upper portion of the member 51 onto the threadedportion 5O of the vertical shaft 49. Through each of thevertical shafts'49 abovethe upper lug 48 is fixed a pin 54 which prevents too far a downward movement of such shafts 49 and plungers 51 toward the table or platform 14.

cecured to the'top of the rectangular member 47 by screws 55 and centrally withrespect to the length of such rectangular member 47 is an upright 56. Formed integral with the member 56 is a bearing 57 in which is rotatably mounted thehorizontal shaft 58. The bearing member 57' is provided with a cutout portion "59, and formed integral with the shaft 58 intermediate the ends thereof so as to'be visible in the cut out portion 59in a pinion60. At the top of the member 56 is formed a projection 61-which acts as a support for the upper endiof a dial plate 62, a screw 63 holding the dial 'plate62 in engagement with the projections 61. The dialplate-Gl is substantially asemi-circle, as clearly shown in i Fig. 1, and the dial plate is divided into segmentsion whichare marked various characters I corresponding to the general character'of the material to be worked upon. Secured to one end of the shaft 58 by screw 64 is an indicating hand 65, awasher 66 being placed between the indicating hand 65 and the face of the dial plate 61. 'Meshing with the pinion 60'on the shaft 58 is a vertically arranged rack 67 r The bearing member 57 isprovided with a-perforation '68 lying parallel to the bearing for the shaft 58, andadjust'ably mounted in said perforation 68 is a member 69. This member, 69' is provided witha perforation 70 parallal to, but eccentric with, the axis of such member 69, and adiustably secured in the perforation is a shaft 7 -1. One end of the shaft 71 is enlarged, as shown at 72, and on this enlarged portion is rotatably mounted a hardened steel roller 7 3 which is positioned to be engaged by the rack 67 in the vertical movement thereof, while the other end is threaded to receive a nut 74 and by means of which the shaft 71 is secured in the member 69. By rotating the member 69 in the perforation 68, the distance between. the circumference of the hardened roller 7 3 and the vertically mounted rack 67 be varied. Secured to the top end of the rack 67 is the lower end of a spring 75, the upper end of this spring 75 being secured to the projection 61, this spring 75 tending to force the rack 67 upwardand thus rotate the shaft 58 to a position-to bring the indicating hand 65into its zero or normal position, as indicatedin Fig. 1.

A beam 76 is pivotally attached at its central point to the lower end of the rack 67. Ateach end of the beam 7 6 is pivotally attached the upper end of a link 7 7. To the lower end of each link 77 is pivotally attached at its middle point a. beam 78.

At each end of each of the beams 7 8 is pivotally attached the upper end of a link 79. Pivotally attached to the lower end of each link 79 and at its central .1:- point is a beam 80. Pivotally attached to as clearly shown-in the figures.

each end of each of the beams 80 is the upper end of a link 81. Each link 81 has its ower end turned so as to lie in a plane perpendicular to the plane in which lies the upper end,

Pivotally attached to the lower end of each of the links 81 and at its middle point is'a beam 82- which, as will be seen by reference to the drawings, lies at right angles to the beams 76, 78, and 80.

To the front end of each of the beams 82 is pivotally attached the upper end of a link 83 while pivotally attached to the lower end 0 each of said beams 82 is pivotally attached the upp'erend of a link 84. Adjacent to each pair of lugs 48 in the front side of the reclugs 48 on the front side of the rectangular member 47, is provided at its upper end with a slot 89. Pivotally mounted in each of the slots in the bracket member 86 on a pin 90 is a lever 91. Each of the levers 91 is also pivotally mounted in the upper end of the vertically mounted shafts 49 on the front of the member 47 on pins 92. Eachof the levers 91 at the end remote from the bracket 86 is pivotally attached to the lower end of the links 84. Pivotaliy attached to the brackets 88 on the rear member 47 by pins 92 are levers 93 which levers are also pivotally attached to the upper end of the vertically arranged shafts 49 in the lugs 48 on the rear of the member 47 by pin 94. These levers 93 are also pivotally attached at the ends remote from the brackets 92 to the lower end of links 83. The system of linkages above described defines a construction such that the vertical movement imparted to the rack 67 will be equal to the average vertical movement of the vertically arranged shafts 49and this average movement will be imparted to, by means of the rack 67 and pinion 60, the indicating hand 65 and the amount of this movement will be visually indicated on the dial plate 61.

lVhen the shaft 33 has been rotated so as to bring the crank pins 40 into their lowermost position, the table 14 will have been moved to its lowermost position against the compression of the springs 19 and the downward movement of the vertically arranged shafts 49 being limited by the pins 54, there will be a space between the upper surface of the table 14 and the lower surface of the members 51. The table 14 will remain out of ei'igagement with the members 51 a sufiicient'length of time to enable an operator to slide a skin or hide, whose average thickness is to be determined, over the beveled portion 21 and onto the table 14 and in proper position to engage with, and operate, the vertically arranged shafts 49. The'construction is such that, wheiithe lugs 16 are in engagement with the stops 13 and the table 14- moved up intoengagement with the lower face of the members 51, the pins 54 are so positioned that the indicator indicates zero.

The operation of my improved apparatus is as follows, it being assumed that the apparatus is constructed as above described and that, power having been turned into the motor 25, the shaft 33 will be rotated in the proper direction and at the proper speedto cause an alternate upward and downward movement of the table 14. When the table 14 moves to its lowermost position, the operator slides a hide or skin over the bevelled portion 21 onto the table 14 and brings the required portion of the hide or skin under the members 51. The continued rotation of the shaft 33 will raise the table 14, this upward movement being assisted by the springs 19, andthe upper surface of the hide or skin will engage with the under surface of the members 51 andeach individual member 51 will be lifted a distance equal to the thickness of the skin or hide at the particular point with which it is inengagement. The average of the amounts that the total number of members 51 has raised will be communicated throughthe system of'linkages above described to the indicating hand 65 and-this average movement will be visually indicated on the dial plate 61. The operator willmake a mental note of the position indicated and will grade the hide "or skin in accordance therewith. It will be thus seen that my deline drawn transverse to the skin or hide.

While I have necessarily shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention somewhat in detail, it is to beunderstood that I may vary the size, shape, and arrangement of parts within wide limits without departingfrom the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described'my invention, what I claim as new is: 1

a 1. An improved grading machine comprising a plurality of independently and'longitudinally movableshafts adapted to simultaneously have endengagement with a skin or hide at spaced points over a predetermined area thereof, and means cooperating with said movable shafts to measure the average movement thereof.

2. An improved grading machine comprising a plurality of independently and longitudinally movable shafts arranged to simul taneously have'end engagementwith a skin or hide at spaced points over a predetermined surface extending substantially along the length of a skin or hide, and means associated therewith for visually indicating the amount ofaverage movement of said movable shafts.

3. An improved grading machine comprising a base, a table mounted thereon, a plurality of independently and longitudinally movable shafts mounted above, and movable with respect to, said table, means for moving said table toward and from the independently movable shafts, and means associated with said independently movable shafts for visuf ally indicating the average movement of all ofsaid shafts. 4. An improved grading machine comprising a base, a table yieldingly mounted on said base, a plurality of independently I and longitudinally movable shafts mounted above said table, means for moving said table alternately toward and from said shafts, means for causing anappreciable'slowing down 1n the vertical movement of said table at the exa plurality of spaced points over a predeter mined area thereof and means co-operating therewith to indicate the average movement of said movable members. i

6. In a machine for measuring leather, a work support, a set of members for contacting with a piece. of leather carried by the support upon'relative approaching movement ofthe support and the set of members in a direction normal to the surface of the support, means for causing said relative movement of the support and set of members, the

members being individually moved various dlstancesas determined by variations in the thickness dimensionsof the leather inthe spots covered by the members, and means 7 controlled by said members for averaging the thickness of the piece of leather and indicating such average.

e 7. In a machine for measuring leather, a work support, avset of members above the work support for contacting with a piece of leather on the support upon relativemovement'of the work support and the set of memhers along a path normal to the surface of the work support, means for causing said. relative movement between the work support and the set of members, said members being yieldingly mounted so as to be operated individualiy by the pressure of the piece of leather thereag'ainst, and means operated by said members for averaging and indicating the extent of movement of the members.

7 8. In a machine for measuring a piece of leather, a work support, a plurality of mov- I treme'limits of travel thereof, averaging V means associated with said vertically movable shafts for averaging the movement of all ofsaid shafts, and means associated with said averaging means for visually indicating said average movement.

5. An improved grading machine comprising a plurality of independently movable members interconnected together adapted to simultaneously engage with a hide or skin at 

